Why you shouldn't buy HomeKit Secure Video cameras right now

When Apple first launched HomeKit Secure Video in 2019, it was a refreshing, privacy first take on video surveillance, but since then they've failed to push the standard forward and keep up with the competition. In this video, I'll explain why HomeKit Secure Video cameras are probably not the right choice for you right now, and other options to consider.

HomeKit Cameras in this video:

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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
01:02 First Reason
02:26 Second Reason
03:23 Third Reason
05:08 Fourth Reason
06:26 Fifth Reason
07:23 Bonus Reason
08:43 What to buy

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[iansavill]

If Apple can put a 48 mega pixel camera into the back an iPhone, surely making security camera systems that actually work flawlessly with their home hubs would be a walk in the park.

[opelmanta]

dont want higher resolution, i want higher bitrate

[BenBazan]

I would love it if Apple created a HomeKit hub with thread (and zigbee) with the ability to add a hard drive/ssd for local & continuous hksv storage.

[Buqammaz]

I totally agree, the security section in Homekit needs alot of features!!

I hope to get a very big update to Homekit in the next March event!

[johnatkinson]

Really hoping we actually get more updates for base homekit, I wouldn't be surprised if the reason we haven't been getting a ton of homekit updates over the past few years(we've got a few but not a ton) is because apple was working with others on the matter standard and that's where most of their smart home team had been putting their efforts. With the release of matter support with iOS 16.2 they should now be focusing on the reasons to get a homekit specific device (or have it in homekit mode) now that there is the interoperability of matter.

[leejaspersamson]

Any new updates for the best affordable indoor homekit cam?

[BrandonDoyleMN]

Great points, I recently went to the dark side (iPhone) and was considering swapping my nest cameras and our doorbell but I like a lot of those features so I don’t mind using a separate app

[mkrewson]

Totally agree. I use HomeKit Secure Video for inside the house, but outside Nest just works so flawlessly. Great detection, 24/7 recording, and no maintenance with the Starling Home Hub.

The Google Home app also has a great summary view so I can just quickly scan through and see events it captured over the last few days as opposed to scrubbing through it manually to see everything manually/hoping it actually recorded the event in the Apple Home app.

Also, Google Home lets me see all of my cameras live in one view whereas Apple Home just does screenshots every 10 seconds. Drives me crazy.

[waylinnelson]

I agree with everything you said. I wish Apple was way way further ahead with HomeKit and cameras. Trillion dollar company should be able to be on top of this and do a way better job. I love the HomeKit interface, but it lacks in so many areas. I keep hoping and wishing it would get better, but it just seems to be sooo slow. Great video! Apple needs to pay attention to more videos like yours.

[AVC.]

Could they actually be trying to store videos locally with the new Apple TV and its great storage and Ethernet port? Since they’re all about privacy (as we should push them all to be) it should be engineered in from the start. Not afterward.

[tommedvedich]

I’m about to buy some cameras and I’m debating apple vs google. I don’t wanna go google because of privacy. I also have had an apple HomeKit camera and it literally had an issue multiple times a week. It was awful. So I’m very hesitant to buy in. My nest doorbell I currently have has been nearly flawless for over a year.

[r.b.]

I think I had enough with apple HomeKit video security camera I’m constantly getting no response. Defeats the purpose of having if it’s not reliable.

[khaynn]

Using Ubiquiti Unify Protect as well, and it is just missing a proper integration to Homekit ... (knowing Some Ubiquiti leads are former Apple employees )

[SergioBlackDolphin]

The prerecording of events buffered is essential. Most of the events need context and the latency can kill videos that are not buggered locally.

[durdaneta]

do you have your ubiquity camera system set up on homekit? with home bridge or something similar?

[andrewdavidson]

I had bought a Eufy 4 camera pack just before things went south with them. Thankfully the packed was unopened so I was able to return it.

Now though I'm likely to wait to see what Matter brings to the table and honestly, more importantly to me I'd love Thread cameras having witnessed the difference between wifie/bluetooth smart plugs and bulbs (Lifx, Meross and Cygnett) and thread ones (Eve and Nanoleaf).

[sinister_knife]

Have you tried using homebridge to tie your UniFi protect into the apple secure video yet?

[BrianRouse]

I have two Eufy cameras. When the HKSV is enabled, it burns through the camera battery. There are also countless movement captures that my Eufy records that is not captured by HKSV. I’ve all but given up on Homekit for anything other than lighting. Disappointing.

[JRRobwn]

My main concern is privacy. Companies like Nest have a horrible track record on leaking data, sharing private video with LE and employees playing peeping Tom. What camera system is a good balance of encrypted privacy and functionality?

[NeverMeltIce]

Is there a bypass one can do via a 3rd party app or script to have the Cameras be set in Record Motion Mode with a particular timing schedule?